Resilience is a design choice: rethinking cities starting from their structures
Interview with Gian Michele Calvi – Professor, engineer, and innovator
Gian Michele Calvi is one of those engineers you wouldn’t expect. A university professor, structural designer, and tireless curious mind, Calvi moves between classrooms, construction sites, and innovative concepts with the ease of someone doing only what he loves. We interviewed him to understand what it means today to design resilient structures and cities, and the role that new technologies, such as intelligent seismic protection systems, play in this transformation.
Engineer, professor, “inventor.” But what truly drives you in your work?
«I only do what I enjoy. I avoid repetitive problems and instead look for new challenges. For me, seismic engineering is still more of an art than a science: it requires experience, intuition, and the ability to face situations never encountered before. I work on bridges, post-earthquake reconstructions, historic structures, even induced seismicity in the Netherlands. But the core point is one: solving problems. That, I believe, is the true meaning of ‘engineer,’ from ‘ingenium.»
How does the engineer’s role evolve in the transformation of cities?
«There isn’t a single role. Some focus on applying regulations, others drive innovation. Personally, I believe that today the real challenge is integrating structural safety, energy efficiency, sustainability, acoustics, and quality of life. Building well means designing with people’s lives in mind. Always.»
Resilience has become a buzzword of our time. But what does it really mean to design a resilient city?
«Today, a resilient city is one that responds to unexpected events — not just one that resists them. In seismic engineering, for years we focused on protecting human life and preventing collapses. But today, the real goal is continuity of use: ensuring that a home, a school, a hospital, or a bridge remain operational even after an extreme event. Indirect losses — such as downtime and service interruptions — are the ones that weigh the most.»
What is the connection between resilience and structural design?
«Designing resilient structures means considering alternative scenarios and anticipating the unexpected. If a key bridge is closed for a year, how many extra kilometers will hundreds of vehicles travel daily? What is the social cost? This is the perspective we need to adopt. The engineer’s role is not only to prevent collapses but also to protect the functionality of the urban system.»
Are smart technologies — like monitoring and control systems — changing the way we design?
«Yes, but with a caveat: monitoring is not an end in itself. It’s a tool, meaningful only when integrated into a clear understanding. You need to know what you want to measure, why, and how you will use that data. The real value of active systems — like those developed by ISAAC — lies in their ability to adapt the structure’s response in real time. You collect data, interpret it, and act. That’s the true meaning of active control.»
A concrete project that embodies this vision?
«The Piloti Tower in Genoa. There, the goal was not just structural safety, but the livability of the spaces, which was affected by frequent vibrations. With ISAAC’s active control system, we reduced movements and ensured full operability. It’s a successful example because the disturbing event was frequent. With a rare earthquake, it’s more difficult, but the principle remains: use the data to modify the response. At San Siro, for instance, we had planned to stop the music if the vibrations became dangerous. This is already a form of adaptive resilience.»
Looking ahead to 2050: what role will intelligent structures and technologies play in the cities of the future?
«I don’t expect sudden revolutions. But the ability to collect, interpret, and use data will grow. Think about Japan: high-speed trains automatically slow down with seismic early warnings. Or oncology therapy in Pavia, where the proton beam stops if the patient’s breathing shifts the target. Such sophisticated technologies were unimaginable twenty years ago. Yet, this present is the future.»
A piece of advice for a young engineer?
«Do what excites you. Study, read, listen, and choose your mentors. Truly original ideas are rare — grow by standing on the shoulders of those who came before you. And don’t be afraid to change course. A friend of mine, who graduated in Romance philology, became the CEO of a bank. Education is life.»
For further insights
Gian Michele Calvi’s vision is clear: designing today means preparing the built environment for what may never happen, but could change everything. Resilience is not an option—it’s a choice. And it demands ingenuity, experience, and tools worthy of the challenge.
ISAAC develops intelligent seismic protection solutions designed exactly for this purpose: to enhance urban resilience, preserve the value of structures, and ensure continuity and safety.
ISAAC technicians are ready to provide unrestricted preventive analyses on public, hospital, religious, and industrial buildings, with the aim of identifying potential weaknesses and intervention opportunities. We offer a practical approach to guide administrations and organizations through a path of conscious and lasting structural protection before emergencies arise.
We are committed to conscious protection that can transform risk into resilience.
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